The manufacture of glass seedbeads with a metallic coating (that self-destructs) goes back to the 1960s, at least.

These were used by Barbara Francisco (whom I knew) in her kits that featured designs based on American Indian patterns—and were the first modern artistic kits marketed—anticipating what has become common in recent years.

Barbara warned people to not dry-clean the finished pieces, because the coating would come off. She only used these beads because there were no actual metal seedbeads available (that she could buy in quantities and correct sizes for inclusion in her kits).

JDA.